CYA levels

[BigDave]

What kind of filter do you have? How do you use the tabs and dichlor?

[dubbedout]

It's a Hayward sand filter. I use the tabs in a floater, and the distribute the powder dichlor whenever FC is low.

[BigDave]

If you have no chance of having any dichlor or trichlor in your skimmer, pump, filter, heater, or feeder or anywhere but in the pool, you can slowly dose cal-hypo into the skimmer - it will dissolve on the sand bed and leave it's calcium precipitate there. But Remember - NO trichlor or dichlor anywhere near the circulation system - Cal-hypo and stabilized chlorine have a surprisingly energetic affinity for each other. We don't want your filter to go BOOM after all.

[dubbedout]

I just got back from Leslie's to get my water tested (for a more definite # for CYA). They got a 117 which is pretty close to what I was getting. They recommended staying with the stabilized chlorine rather than switching to cal-hypo. They said the CYA would be fine and that I don't want to add more calcium to the pool.

Full test results:
FC 5.99
CH 275
CYA 117
TA 143
PH 7.9 (I just added 32oz muriatic acid)

[Watermom]

You definitely do not want to continue to use any form of stabilized chlorine. You do NOT want your CYA any higher. Your CH reading is fine at 275. Why not use use bleach? It won't add more calcium nor more CYA.

You also should consider getting a Taylor K-2006 or 2006C (link in my signature below) so you can test your own water. Pool store testing is often not very accurate.

[dubbedout]

I do have a K2006 kit, but I wanted to see what my CYA levels were exactly. Since on the CYA test I lost sight of the black dot right before the water line hit the 100 mark. Maybe I'm just too unsure of my own test results (I'm a new pool owner, just bought this house 1 year ago).

I'm leaning towards bleach now. I was hesitant before having to lug around the plastic jugs as its more convenient to have 50lbs of the granules readily available in the garage. But I've learned that no matter what I use (besides bleach and LC) I'm always going to get something else other than chlorine in my pool...whether it be CYA or Calcium.

I'd like to finish out the remaining Dichlor I have left but don't want to risk raising my CYA any higher. The pool guys said don't worry about the high CYA...I know better. Thinking I'll make a run to Sam's club tonight and grab some bleach. I see they have a 3 pack of 121oz concentrate for about $9.

[Watermom]

Sounds like a good plan. Keep us posted how things are going.